Translating software into multiple languages is key for expanding into new markets. Without the right tools, however, it can be a slow and cumbersome process that leads to launch delays or even shipping broken software. Lingoport’s LocalyzerQA helps software teams overcome that problem by bridging the gap between developers and translators so apps can be developed and updated faster, and with more accurate content.
Quality Assurance (QA) is an expected process in software development. But when it comes to language, the typical process for reviewing translations and updating any corrections is long, arduous and inefficient. We joke that localization and translation bugs go to JIRA or other bug tracking systems to die.
When the localization tools developer teams need aren’t available, issues that could’ve been caught and fixed before shipping can languish unresolved for months or even years. Addressing those bugs after shipping costs significantly more than fixing them during coding, and users have to deal with broken or incomplete software while dev teams slowly work through issue backlogs. It’s a bad user experience, damages the company’s reputation, and acts as an incentive for customers to do business with companies that better meet their needs.
Offering customers software in their native language makes it easier for them to use and is more approachable. Simply translating words from English to Japanese, for example, may seem like enough, but it doesn’t guarantee menus and other in-app content will make sense for users. Localyzer QA addresses that by letting developers, translators, and even regional distributors collaborate so software feels native in every language.
Bridge the Communication Gap
Developing software for a global market requires internationalization, or i18n, which is the process of preparing code to be more easily adapted for other locales. Making those changes is part of localization (l10n) and includes translation, text and number formatting, currency conversions, and any other elements that make software feel native for users in every language you support. It can be difficult for developers to be made aware of all internationalization issues, as they create new features. Lingoport’s Globalyzer assists with this, offering guidance that’s continually integrated in their development environments, code reviews and dashboards. Continuous translation/localization of the words that are part of feature development user interfaces, is facilitated with Lingoport’s Localyzer.
The retail ecommerce market offers a clear example of why localization is important for business growth. Worldwide ecommerce sales hit $4.938 trillion in 2021, and is expected to reach $5.542 trillion in 2022, according to research from Insider Intelligence. That number is projected to climb to $7.391 trillion in 2025.
The problem companies face is that language translation review doesn’t fit the typical development QA process. Since the translation process requires context instead of simply swapping out words, simple word translations will likely leave users feeling like their language is an afterthought—or worse, the translation may not make sense. Context is everything, when translating and reviewing your software. Consider the word load. It has a different meaning, depending upon if it’s used as a noun, verb or adjective. Now consider the complexity of variability of languages. You can understand quickly that the context of the User interface or action can strongly influence choosing the right translation.
Imagine translating an application from English to Japanese without accounting for context. The support or sales team in Japan then complain, saying software can’t be used in its current state. That leads to delays and added expense while the developer and translator teams work to fix the product.
LocalyzerQA fixes that problem by showing translations in context so changes can be addressed quickly during the development process, yet without needing any developer requirements to track down the files and words to be changed. Using LocalyzerQA, the linguist, distributor, sales team or even a customer can view translations in the application, just as end users will see it, and queue up suggested changes. Once approved, changes are automatically updated in the source code because LocalyzerQA links to the string/word location in the development repository, too. It saves time, helps catch translation issues before apps ship, and reduces costs because bugs can be fixed during the development process instead of after.
LocalyzerQA also streamlines the cumbersome translate-review-approve-update process. The typical process involves a long list of steps. In contrast, the steps in the LocalyzerQA process can be counted on one hand.
Localization: Context is King
The problem for translators is that in the translation process they typically see short text strings outside of the software where it’s used, then convert those to a new target language. Without knowing the specific intent, they’re forced to make assumptions about appropriate wording. Seeing those translations where and how they’re being used, before software ships, brings context back into the equation. LocalyzerQA lets you see translations as they appear in software, so it’s clear when the right words are being used.
Reviewers get to see the translations in context, too. Since they understand the app, seeing translations in place makes it much easier to know when something needs to be corrected. By looking at case-specific translations, they’re ensuring the right content is being used in the right places.
Streamlined Workflow
Localization is a slow process for many companies. The translation and review workflow includes a long list of steps that take time and lead to delays, which pushes developer release cycles to roll out software with support for just one language, then add more languages later in updates.
That cumbersome process inevitably leaves localization fix requests piling up, giving customers a poor experience while offering competitors with a more efficient workflow an opportunity to release their translated software first. LocalyzerQA fixes that problem by streamlining the translation and review process. The benefits if offers include:
- Review translations in context: Navigate the software interface to view translations where they appear so the context is clear.
- Translation corrections in code: Translation change requests link to their location in the software’s code so developers don’t need to spend time hunting for and replacing content. There is no burden on Developers for screenshots, updating files, or any other localization tasks other than continuing to internationalize.
- Change translations in context: Translation changes aren’t necessarily global. For those situations where word usage is correct in one instance, but not another, tag just those that need to change.
- Fast change updates: Localyzer QA is a bridge between development and translation. When suggested changes are approved, they’re automatically updated without developers needing to take the time to update code.
- Reduce the number of steps to fix translations: Translation workflows often involve upwards of 15 steps with plenty of delays. LocalyzerQA cuts that down to five: View translation in the app interface, suggest changes, approve, automatically apply changes to code, and review.
The streamlined process is so fast that it can take less time to identify, approve and apply translation changes than it does to create a ticket requesting the change in a bug and project tracking system. That saves time, frees developers to work on software updates instead of localization fixes, and lets companies work with a true continuous localization workflow so software and translations stay in sync. In fact, LocalyzerQA is so efficient that teams can use a trained machine translation with Lingoport’s Localyzer in a truly continuous localization workflow.
Resources to Learn More
Software Localization: Let It Boost Your Business, Not Burden It
A Better Approach to Internationalizing and Localizing Software
Continuous Localization: Especially for Developers
Making software available in languages for local markets is important for companies that have — or want — a global presence. Localization helps companies present their software and brand natively for specific locales, making them more approachable while increasing the likelihood of building a loyal customer base. That process is faster, more reliable, and costs less when software development and translation work in tandem, and when translation doesn’t slow down release cycles, which is what Localyzer QA does for you.
